The public gardens in your neighbourhood are not only looking their best at this time of year, but many feature tempting events and activities.

Planning to watch Shakespeare in High Park? Arrive a few hours early for a stroll among the trees, a visit to the formal gardens across from the Grenadier restaurant, and a picnic on the hill in front of the amphitheatre. It is all very civilized.

“When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money” — Susan Heller

Do you ever feel left behind? It is mid summer and just about everyone I know seems to be away or planning to be away very soon. Their description of “away” is almost always better sounding than where I am.

Phooey! I have a secret I will let you in on — a place that seems far away, but really is not.

The public gardens in your neighbourhood are not only looking their best at this time of year, but many feature tempting special events and activities. As I dig into the happenings in the green, public spaces around home, I feel good about my decision to lay low this summer. It’s easier on the budget, too.

Country music at the RBG

This is not a joke; the venerable Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington or Hamilton has added country music to its popular outdoor music series this summer. It looks as though the grand old lady of Canadian gardens is shedding its stuffy image, and I say, “yahoo!”

Free with your admission, $12.50 per adult, and no charge to season ticket holders (season tickets start at $68), you can hear country talent at 6 p.m. every Tuesday. This is in addition to Red Hot Jazz and Cool Blues every Wednesday. All of this happening in Hendrie Park.

Saturdays and Sundays, you can enjoy “Edible Weekends” all summer. This weekend, you can learn how to prepare a Thai meal between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day. A cooking lesson is offered at 1 p.m. both days. No doubt you can learn how to grow some of the fabulous vegetables that are used in Thai cooking.

The Veggie Village is an education in itself and you can go there any day of the week. Go to www.rbg.ca for details.

Classical music twice a week

The Toronto Music Garden celebrates its 10th anniversary this summer with free classical concerts Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m.

The garden design was inspired by Bach. You can take a self-guided tour any day. This beautiful treasure is one of Toronto’s best-kept secrets. In fact, there are fans who will be disappointed I am telling you about it, as they would prefer to keep it to themselves.

This coming Thursday, Aug. 1, Whitney Rose is featured. I have no idea who she is, but with a name like Rose, playing in one of the great public gardens in the country must be a great fit. It’s free, as is the Farmers Market every Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. I like the honey vendor the best.

Shrew, Macbeth

If music in a public garden is not your thing, perhaps Shakespeare in the park is. Then head over to Toronto’s High Park.

Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, The Taming of the Shrew is performed at 8 p.m. in the amphitheatre. Directed by Ted Witzel, you will no doubt enjoy this one.

On Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, Macbeth is performed in the same amphitheatre. Directed by Ker Wells, this, too, is a winner for Shakespeare fans.

These productions have been going on for several years. They cost $15 to $25. Purchase tickets online ahead of time. You will pay that in gas just to get to Stratford, and, even then, you will not have the outdoor experience you will at High Park.

I suggest that you arrive a few hours early for a stroll among the trees, a visit to the formal gardens across the road from the Grenadier restaurant, and plan a picnic on the hill in front of the amphitheatre. It is all very civilized. Go to canadianstage.com for details.

Mosaiculture — back!

Let’s say that you do not mind travelling a bit — say, five hours to Montreal. It is not France, I know, but Mosaiculture is back in the Montreal Botanical Garden after a 10-year absence.

Without pictures, it is hard to describe, but here goes: these are living sculptures fashioned after real people and events. They are pieces of art, by 50 artists from 25 countries, and they are crafted using plants. It is very cool.

Mosaiculture is on display until Sept. 29. It is free with admission, from $9.50 to $18.75, depending on your age and whether you are a student. Located in the thriving east end of downtown Montreal, this 190-acre garden is worth your time and trouble.

In addition to Mosaiculture, the MBG features an ongoing exhibition titled The Glass and Metal Garden. Which sounds like a contradiction: plants vs. glass and metal?

However, the pictures tempt me to get on the next train to Montreal to check it out. Apart from the paths made of crushed glass, a green wall of glass bottles and stainless steel, and rusted steel structures, mix with plants with leaves and flowers of silver, gray, orange, brown and purple.

These represent the various states of steel, sometimes shiny, sometimes oxidized. Albert Mondor and his team have created something extraordinary. A real mind-bender. This exhibit ends Sept. 29.

Is there such a thing as a perennial hibiscus that will survive in Toronto?

Yes. There are Hardy Hibiscus that will grow in Toronto. They feature monstrous flowers and are hardy to zone 4. My favourites: Heart Throb, Jazzberry Jam and Midnight Marvel.

Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author, broadcaster and garden editor of Reno and Decor magazine. You can sign up for his free monthly newsletter at markcullen.com, and watch him on CTV Canada AM every Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. You can reach Mark through the “contact” button on his website and follow him on Twitter @MarkCullen4 and Facebook. Mark’s latest book, Canadian Lawn & Garden Secrets, is available at Home Hardware and all major bookstores.

More on thestar.com

We value respectful and thoughtful discussion. Readers are encouraged to flag comments that fail to meet the standards outlined in our
Community Code of Conduct.
For further information, including our legal guidelines, please see our full website
Terms and Conditions.